Description:
<jats:p>A driving force in Vergil’s <jats:italic>Aeneid</jats:italic> is the hostility of Juno to the Trojans as they approach, and finally arrive in Italy. The epic in some ways mirrors the opposition encountered by Augustus as the new ruler of Rome. Juno’s opposition to the Trojans has its origin not only in Greek mythology, but in the history of the local peoples of Italy with whom early Romans had to contend. From the outset of the poem she becomes the personification of these opposing forces. Once the Trojans finally reach mainland Italy, she sets in motion a long war, although the one depicted in the <jats:italic>Aeneid</jats:italic> was not as long as the real wars Romans waged with the Latin League and with the many of the tribes of Italy, including the Veii. The reality of the wars Rome had to contend with are here compared to the relatively brief one depicted in the <jats:italic>Aeneid</jats:italic>, and the pacification of Juno reflects the merging of the different peoples of Rome with their subjugator.</jats:p>